Flood Control

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent estimate has been made of the number of vacancies for  (a) flood risk engineers,  (b) flood risk planners,  (c) flood risk project managers and  (d) other flood risk management posts in local authorities.

Huw Irranca-Davies: I have been asked to reply.
	We have not specifically sought to estimate the number of vacancies with local authorities relating to flood risk. DEFRA, in association with the Local Government Association, conducted a survey of all local authorities in autumn 2008 to make an initial assessment of existing local authority capacity and expertise. The survey revealed some encouraging evidence of existing levels of capacity that could be built upon and also identified that this was not a consistent picture across all authorities. The survey also confirmed that additional capacity would be required to take on proposed new duties from the Pitt Review and that recruitment difficulties and the availability particularly of technical skills would need to be addressed.
	The survey asked local authorities how easy it was for them to recruit the technical staff they needed. 59 per cent. said this did not apply or they did not know, which could be interpreted as meaning that they were not recruiting or had not tried recently. 27 per cent. reported having some difficultly. The main reasons given for recruitment difficulties were a lack of suitably qualified applicants (77.8 per cent. of authorities had experienced difficulties), applicants lacking relevant experience (68.1 per cent.), and inadequate pay (63.9 per cent.). Other commonly cited reasons were competition from private sector employers (47.2 per cent.), competition from other local authorities (44.4 per cent.) and competition from other public sector employers (31.9 per cent.).
	The findings of the survey together with three workshops with local authorities have informed work on developing capacity for local authorities on flood risk management. DEFRA is currently undertaking a scoping study on broad local authority capacity building options and this will report in July 2009. We are also working closely with the Environment Agency, Local Government Association and relevant sector skills councils to develop skills availability in the wider market place and links to education.

Unemployed: Social Security Benefits

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions with reference to her Department's press release of 12 January 2009 on guaranteed extra help for people unemployed for six months, how much and what proportion of the £0.5 billion required to fund the package will be provided by her Department.

Jim Knight: The pre-Budget report made available to DWP an additional £1.3 billion of funding which will ensure that over the next two years, through Jobcentre Plus and our private and voluntary providers, we not only maintain, but increase, the support we offer.
	The proposals announced on 12 January 2009 pledged £0.5 billion over two years from April 2009 to guarantee more support to people unemployed for six months or more by providing incentives for firms to hire, access to help in setting up a business, extra funding for training and opportunities for work-focused volunteering.
	The costs attributable to the elements sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions are estimated at around £400 million over the next two years, with the costs attributable to the Department for Innovation Universities and Skills estimated at around £83 million. Of the £400 million, HM Treasury released an additional £295 million and the Department will fund the remainder from efficiencies and the Department's VAT windfall.

Departmental Data Protection

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many officials in  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies have been (i) disciplined and (ii) dismissed for (A) breaches of data protection requirements and (B) inappropriate use of personal or sensitive data in the last 12 months.

Chris Bryant: Information is a key asset to Government and its correct handling is vital to the delivery of public services and to the integrity of the Government. The Security Policy Framework and the Data Handling Report produced by the Cabinet Office provide a strategic framework for protecting information that Government handle and put in place a set of mandatory measures which Departments must adhere to.
	In line with Cabinet Office Guidance details are not provided to avoid revealing the identity of individuals and on the grounds of confidentiality.

Cabinet: Glasgow

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much expenditure was incurred by his Department in respect of the Cabinet meeting in Glasgow on 16 April 2009.

Jack Straw: I attended the Regional Cabinet meeting in Glasgow on 16 April 2009. £132—for my return travel by train from Oxenholme Station to Glasgow Central station. There was no further departmental expenditure by the Ministry of Justice in relation to the meeting.

Crimes of Violence: Sentencing

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many and what proportion of those offenders sentenced for violence against the person or sexual offences received  (a) a custodial sentence and  (b) a non-custodial sentence or other disposal in each of the last two years.

Jack Straw: The information requested is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Number and percentage of offenders sentenced for violence against the person or sexual offences receiving custodial and non-custodial sentences, 2000-07 
			   2008  2007 
			   Offenders  Percentage of offenders  Offenders  Percentage of offenders 
			  Violence against the person 
			  Custodial sentences: 
			 Immediate custody 12,354 29.5 12,535 29.8 
			 Suspended sentence 5,569 13.3 7,167 17.0 
			  
			 Non-custodial sentences 23,982 57.2 22,377 53.2 
			  
			 Total number sentenced 41,906 100 42,079 100 
			  
			  Sexual offences 
			  Custodial sentences: 
			 Immediate custody 2,808 569 2.810 55.6 
			 Suspended sentence 296 60 439 8.7 
			 Non-custodial sentences 1,828 37.1 1,805 35.7 
			  
			 Total number sentenced 4,932 100 5,054 100 
			  Notes: 1. These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. 2. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent In any large scale recording system.  Source: OMS Analytical Services, Ministry of Justice 
		
	
	These figures can all be found in table 1.2 of Sentencing Statistics 2007 available at the following link:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/sentencingannual.htm
	This data is based on the principal offence. Where an offender has been sentenced for more than one offence it is the one for which the heaviest sentence was imposed, where the same sentence has been imposed for more than one offence the principal offence is the one for which the statutory maximum is most severe.

Firearms: Sentencing

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 21 April 2009,  Official Report, column 620W, on firearms: sentencing, how many people were convicted for firearms offences for which a mandatory minimum sentence was applicable in each year since 2004.

Jack Straw: The available information is shown as follows. The table shows the number of persons, aged over 18 at the point of sentencing, sentenced for firearms offences for which the mandatory minimum is applicable. The number of offenders sentenced has been supplied in lieu of the number convicted. Lags in time between conviction and sentencing mean that the numbers convicted and sentenced in a year will not always match. Offenders aged under 18 at the time of the offence are not eligible for the five-year mandatory minimum, while the table shows offenders aged over 18 at the point of sentence they may have been under 18 when the offence was committed in which case the five-year minimum would not have been applicable.
	
		
			  Persons sentenced for firearms offences liable for five years minimum custodial sentence as prescribed by the Criminal Justice Act 2003( 1) , 2004-07 
			   Number of persons sentenced for whom mandatory minimum may apply( 2) 
			 2004(3) 687 
			 2005 353 
			 2006 266 
			 2007 248 
			 (1) Offences under Firearms Act 1968 of possessing or distributing prohibited weapons or ammunition, or possessing or distributing firearms disguised as other object.  (2) Only offenders aged over 18 at the point of sentencing have been included. Five years is the mandatory minimum for persons aged over 18 at time of offence and for offences taking place after 26 January 2004.  (3) The mandatory minimum is only applicable for offences that occurred on or after 26 January 2004. Many of the persons dealt with in 2004 will have committed their offences prior to the mandatory minimum sentences being introduced.   Notes:  1. The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence elected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.  2. These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.   Source:  OMS Analytical Services, Ministry of Justice. 
		
	
	The Criminal Justice Act 2003 prescribed mandatory minimum custodial sentences for the offences of: possessing or distributing prohibited firearms or ammunition and possessing or distributing firearm disguised as other object where the offences were committed on or after 26 January 2004.
	The minimum sentence it set was three years where the offender was aged between 16 and 18 at the time of the offence and five years for offenders aged over 18 at the time of the offence.
	Data held by the Ministry of Justice cannot determine the date the offence took place or the age of the offender at the time of the offence rather it is the date the sentence was passed and the age of the offender at the time of sentencing that is held. It is not possible to separately identify those cases that occurred prior to 26 January 2004.

Land Registry: Complaints

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden of 24 April 2009,  Official Report, columns 969-70W, on the Land Registry: complaints, what consideration he has given to extending the remit of the Office of the Independent Complaints Reviewer to complaints relating to errors made by local Land Registry offices.

Michael Wills: Further to my answer on 24 April 2009,  Official Report, columns 969-70W, the Government do not believe there is a need to extend the remit of the Office of the Independent Complaints Reviewer (ICR).
	The ICR's current remit is wide ranging and includes the ability to investigate complaints about any error made by the Land Registry, whether procedural or substantive. As set out in my previous answer, the exception to this is where a complainant refers to a decision on land registration not related to maladministration, such as delay or loss, where the decision can only be considered judicially. For example, where an error created a substantive right for a third party, such as an incorrect name being entered as a registered proprietor of a property leading to the individual named becoming the legal owner of the property, this would require alteration of the register by either the Court or the Registrar, exercising the powers conferred on them by schedule 4 of the Land Registration Act 2002.

Magistrates

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent steps have been taken to increase the number of magistrates.

Jack Straw: No steps are being undertaken to increase the number of magistrates. Recruitment is being undertaken only to maintain levels to those forecast and to manage the workload.
	Requirements for numbers on the bench is determined locally taking into account projected retirements, possible resignations, average sitting days, bench make-up, local workload data, resources and the use of District Judges (magistrates courts).

Parkhurst Prison

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department has taken in response to the recent report by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons on HM Prison Parkhurst.

Jack Straw: As with all HM chief inspector of prisons' reports an action plan responding to each of the recommendations in the report will be submitted to Ministers and the chief inspector.
	Steps are being taken to address the prison's poor industrial relations and deliver an agenda for change, focusing on the improved treatment of offenders. Work is under way to make Parkhurst a safer and more decent environment, with a new safer custody group overseeing initiatives covering suicide prevention, violence reduction and diversity, including the treatment of disabled prisoners.

Civil Service Agencies: Boats

Anthony D Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many ships and boats have been  (a) owned,  (b) leased and  (c) hired by or on behalf of (i) the Marine and Fisheries Agency, (ii) the Environment Agency, (iii) Natural England, (iv) the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, (v) the Sea Fisheries Committees and (vi) the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science in each of the last three financial years; how many operational days each of those vessels has spent at sea at each agency's expense in that period; and what expenditure each agency incurred on purchasing, leasing and hiring such vessels in each such year.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The Marine and Fisheries Agency (MFA) does not own any vessels, but it does have an agreement with the Royal Navy for the provision of ships and personnel for fishery protection duties.
	
		
			  Royal Navy Fishery Protection Vessels 
			   Class of ship  Total number of operational days at sea  Number of vessels available for use  Cost (£000) 
			 2006-07 River 620 3  
			  Hunt 225 4  
			  Total days 845 — 6,199 
			  
			 2007-08 River 609 3  
			  Hunt 187 3  
			  Total days 796 — 6,056 
			  
			 2008-09 River 700 3  
			  Hunt 0 —  
			  Total days 700 — 5,916 
		
	
	Additionally the MFA hire inshore vessels for specific fisheries enforcement work, but information on number of operational days at sea are not readily available.
	
		
			  Hire of inshore vessels 
			   £ 
			 2006-07 942.50 
			 2007-08 2,985.00 
			 2008-09 2,971.00 
		
	
	The Environment Agency (EA) currently owns 41 marine vessels to fulfil its statutory duties primarily for marine environmental monitoring and fisheries enforcement. Four of these vessels are 16 m coastal survey vessels focussing on environmental monitoring. The other vessels are smaller, ranging in size from 5-12 m, with duties differing across fisheries enforcement, flood defence inspections and harbour duties as well as environmental monitoring. The EA also hired eight vessels for data collection activities for Flood and Coastal Risk Management and marine monitoring in 2008-09 some of which is expected to continue in 2009-10. The marine vessel fleet has been subject to a detailed review over the last two years. The outcome of the review will lead to a rationalisation of this fleet from 41 to 25 vessels over the next three years to improve efficiency and increase utilisation of the remaining assets.
	The number of vessels, operational days and expenditure from 2006-09 is set out in the table:
	
		
			   Number of operational days  Expenditure (£000)  Number of vessels owned  Number of vessels hired 
			 2006-07 2,423 1,205 44 3 
			 2007-08 2,571 1,371 45 5 
			 2008-09 2,426 1,622 44 8 
			  Source: EA's Marine Monitoring and Vessel Review Project 2009 
		
	
	Natural England uses vessels for a range of activities including: site monitoring; Environmental Impact Assessment (e.g. as a result of the Napoli incident); intertidal and sub-tidal surveys (e.g. sediment and invertebrate surveys in The Wash); compliance with Health and Safety legislation and policy (e.g. diving operations); cetacean surveys (Lyme Bay); the Lundy no-take zone monitoring program (including patrols and enforcement); servicing our National Nature Reserves (NNRs); and a range of formal visits (politicians, journalists and Natural England officials) to specific sites.
	Natural England owns a number of small vessels (no ships) including:
	Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) that services Lundy Island Marine Nature Reserve;
	One mud pump, one riverboat, workboats, one traditional reed lighter, trailboats, one floating pontoon and inflatable boats which are all used to service a number of NNRs and related work on the Broads.
	In addition, the organisation owns a small number of dinghy's which are used on some of their NNRs.
	The following table shows the number of vessel days from vessels either owned, leased and hired by, or on behalf of, Natural England for the years 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09, together with estimations of cost.
	
		
			   Owned (days)  Leased  Hired by or on behalf of  (days)  Total (days)  Cost (£) 
			 2006-07 26 n/a 33 59 24,200 
			   
			 2007-08 24 n/a 119 143 212,900 
			   
			 2008-09 24 n/a 67 91 31,730 
			   
			 Total 74 0 219 293 268,830 
		
	
	Not all the data and information requested are available. In some cases, the number of days at sea and the cost of vessel trips is often included in the set cost of the contract, so there is no specific record other than an overall cost. In addition, Natural England do not hold data on the number of individual boats that are hired over time.
	The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) has neither owned nor leased any ships or boats in the last three financial years. Details of ships and boats hired by, or on behalf of, the JNCC in the last three financial years are listed in the table which includes:
	1. Vessels hired directly by JNCC;
	2. Vessels hired on JNCC's behalf by DEFRA;
	3. Vessels hired by JNCC but costs recovered from DEFRA through a memorandum of understanding between both parties.
	
		
			  Financial year  Ships hired by or on behalf of the JNCC  Number of operational days spent at sea  Expenditure incurred by hiring such vessels (£) 
			 2006-07 3 41 (1)333,600 
			 2007-08 2 30 (1)310,280 
			 2008-09 1 10 (1)111,862 
			 (1) As a consequence of the different hiring models noted above, there may be an overlap of up to £250,000 between JNCC's supplied costs and those supplied by CEFAS. 
		
	
	Sea Fisheries Committees (SFCs) are local authority committees, and DEFRA's role in relation to the operation of SFCs is restricted generally to the appointment of some of the members of each Committee and to the confirmation of SFC byelaws. Information supplied by the Association of Sea Fisheries Committees on behalf of the SFCs is set out as follows. Further information about the SFCs is available in their annual reports or in papers prepared for the Committees' meetings and available under the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985.
	
		
			   Vessels owned  Vessels leased  Operational sea days  Expenditure on purchasing (£)  Expenditure on leasing (£) 
			  Sea Fisheries Committee  06-07  07-08  08-09  06-07  07-08  08-09  06-07  07-08  08-09  06-07  07-08  08-09  06-07  07-08  08-09 
			 Cornwall 2 3 3 — — — 171 158 214 — 21,000 — — — — 
			 Cumbria 3 3 3 1 1 1 145 139 163 — — — (1)1,075 (1)1,075 (1)1,075 
			 Devon 4 4 4 — — — (2)185 (2)162 (2)156 — — — — — — 
			 Eastern 3 3 3 — — — 123 112 (3)80 — — — — — — 
			 Kent and Essex 2 2 2 — — — 159 144 156 — — — — — — 
			 Northumberland 3 3 3 — — — 120 101 118 — — — — — — 
			 North Eastern 3 3 3 — — — (2)140 (2,4)84 (2,5)117 — (5)1.5m — — — — 
			 North Western and North Wales 6 6 6 — — — (2)134 (2)68 (2)124 7,000 — 17,400 — — — 
			 South Wales 2 2 2 — — — 88 125 108 — 35,700 36,000 — — — 
			 Southern 5 5 4 — — — 129 97 106 — — — — — — 
			 Sussex 2 2 2 1 1 1 121 97 106 — — — 116,000 116,000 116,000 
			 Isles of Scilly(6) — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 
			 (1) This is a secondary lease on "Solway Protector". (2) Patrol numbers which may include periods of more than one day at sea. (3) One boat is laid up following theft of engine. (4) "North Eastern Guardian II" was sold out of service mid year. (5) "North Eastern Guardian III" was commissioned in July 2008. (6) Isles of Scilly has no dedicated vessels. This Committee utilises the Islands' harbour master launches or the patrol services of the Cornwall Sea Fisheries Committee.  Notes: 1. No ships or boats have been hired in the period for which information was requested. 2. Enforcement at sea takes place on an intelligence led basis and in any case is subject to weather conditions. There are days when it is neither necessary nor prudent as judged against the capabilities of the ships or boats available to the Sea Fisheries Committees, to take them to sea. Theoretical availability is also lost to planned and to short notice maintenance needs as well as restricted by crew availability. Crew members may, for example, be required in court to give prosecution evidence or to do other higher priority work. 
		
	
	The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) owns and operates one 73 m sea-going research vessel the "Cefas Endeavour". The "Cefas Endeavour" is also made available to other DEFRA partners such as JNCC and Natural England to enable them to deliver their work programmes. CEFAS also hires other vessels on a charter basis. The figures provided include charters of vessels under the Fisheries Science Partnership.
	The number of vessels, operational days and expenditure is set out in the table:
	
		
			   Owned vessels  Charter vessels  
			   Number  Op. days  Number  Op. days  Expenditure (£ million) 
			 2006-07 1 258 42 411 7.0 
			 2007-08 1 275 60 678 8.9 
			 2008-09 1 273 55 684 9.2

Departmental Furniture

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was spent on furniture by  (a) his Department and  (b) each of its non-departmental public bodies in each of the last five years.

Huw Irranca-Davies: From information held centrally, the core-Department's financial system records the following expenditure on furniture and all related services (fitting, movement, etc.) by  (a) the Department and  (b) its non-departmental public bodies in each of the last five years:
	
		
			  £ 
			   DEFRA  Natural England 
			 2004-05 2,712,776 0 
			 2005-06 1,596,639 0 
			 2006-07 635,811 440 
			 2007-08 1,687,043 645,611 
			 2008-09 594,067 111,395 
		
	
	Further information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Sewers: Private Sector

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his Department's timetable is for the transfer of private drains and sewers to water company ownership; and if he will make a statement.

Huw Irranca-Davies: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State (Hilary Benn) announced on 15 December 2008 that privately owned sewers and lateral drains in England will be transferred to water and sewerage companies from 2011. The precise timetable for the transfer will be set out in the regulations that we anticipate will be consulted on later in 2009, prior to their being presented to Parliament for approval. Once Parliament has approved these regulations, the transfer will be a statutory duty for water and sewerage companies.

European Arrest Warrants

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many European warrants for the arrest of  (a) British citizens and  (b) non-British citizens have been received from other EU member states; and how many people have been removed under such warrants since January 2008, broken down by (i) category of offence and (ii) member state of destination.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 24 March 2009
	 SOCA and COPFS (for Scotland) are the designated authorities for the receipt and transmission for European arrest warrants (EAWs) in the UK. The number of EAWs issued to the UK (excluding Scotland) since 1 January 2006 is:
	
		
			   Total 
			   EAWs issued to UK  EAW surrenders 
			 2006 (1)3,298 (1)151 
			 2007 (1)2,480 (2)320 
			 2008 (1)3,230 (2)515 
			 January-April 2009 (1)1,329 (2)165 
			 (1) Several member states will issue EAWs to more than one member state if the person's exact whereabouts is not known. A large number of EAWs received by SOCA therefore turn out to have no connection with the UK. (2) There may be occasions where logistics dictate that the surrender of a person arrested in Scotland takes place in England and is effected by SOCA. 
		
	
	It is not possible from current systems to provide data broken down by nationality, category of offence or member state of destination. This would require a manual examination of all files and incur disproportionate cost.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to reply to the letters to him of 20 January and 16 February 2009 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regards to Mrs H Jebably.

Alan Johnson: My right hon. Friend the former Home Secretary (Jacqui Smith), wrote to the right hon. Member on 20 April 2009.

Sexual Offences: Essex

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many sex offenders have been subject to multi-agency public protection arrangements in  (a) Essex and  (b) Castle Point in each of the last three years.

Alan Campbell: Data on MAPPA management and on the number of registered sexual offenders in England and Wales are available in the annual published MAPPA reports
	http://www.probation.justice.gov.uk/output/page30.asp
	Data on MAPPA management is not broken down below area level. However, for Essex, the number of registered sexual offenders managed via MAPPA meetings between 1 April and 31 March is as follows:
	
		
			   Number of registered sexual offenders 
			 2005-06 21 
			 2006-07 28 
			 2007-08 72 
		
	
	The increase in the 2007-08 figure was due to a review of the MAPPA level of cases being managed rather than an increase in the number of sexual offenders in Essex. This is fully explained in the 2007-08 Essex MAPPA report which is available on
	http://www.probation.homeoffice.gov.uk/files/pdf/Essex%2 0MAPPA%202008%20Report.pdf

Sexual Offences: Essex

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals have been prosecuted for offences relating to sexual exploitation under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 in  (a) Essex and  (b) Castle Point.

Alan Campbell: The number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts for selected offences under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 in Essex from 2004 to 2007 (latest available) are given in the table.
	Data are given in the table for Essex police force area. It is not possible to further break down data to constituency level (i.e. Castle Point) as this level of detail is not held centrally.
	Data for 2008 will be available in the autumn of 2009.
	
		
			  Number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts for selected offences under the Sexual Offences Act 2003( 1) , in Essex, 2004( 2) - 07( 3,4) 
			  Essex police force area 
			   Number 
			 2004 34 
			 2005 49 
			 2006 47 
			 2007 20 
			 (1) Includes the following statutes: sections 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8(1)(2)(3), 9(a)(b)(c)(i)(ii)(1)(a)(b)(c)(i)(ii)(2)(3), 10(1)(a)(b)(c)(i)(ii)(2)(3), 11(1)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii), 12(1)(a)(b)(c)(i)(ii), 13, 14, 15, 16(1)(a)(b)(c)(e)(i)(ii)(2)(3)(4)(5), 17(1)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(i)(ii)(2)(3)(4)(5), 18(1)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(i)(ii)(2)(3)(4)(5), 19(1 )(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(f)(i)(ii)(2)(3)(4)(5), 25(1)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(i)(ii)(4)(a)(b)(5)(6), 26(1)(a)(b)(c)(d)(e)(i)(ii)(4)(a)(b)(5)(6), 47(1)(a)(b)(c)(i)(ii)(3)(4)(a)(b)(5)(6), 48(1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(2), 49(1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(2), 50(1)(a)(b)(i)(ii)(2), 52, 53, 57, 58, 59; (2) The Sexual Offences Act 2003 came into force on 1 May 2004. (3) The statistics relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offence for which they were dealt with. For example, when a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences the principal offence is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (4) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source: Office for Criminal Justice Reform—Evidence and Analysis Unit

Cabinet: Glasgow

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what car journeys he took in attending the Cabinet meeting in Glasgow on 16 April 2009;
	(2)  how much expenditure was incurred by his Department in respect of the Cabinet meeting in Glasgow on 16 April 2009;
	(3)  what expenditure on  (a) travel,  (b) accommodation and  (c) food (i) he and (ii) officials in his Department incurred in connection with the Cabinet meeting in Glasgow on 16 April 2009.

Ben Bradshaw: My right hon. Friend the Member for Leigh (Andy Burnham) attended Cabinet on 16 April 2009 as the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. Total expenditure incurred by my Department was £607.42. This was incurred for travel costs only. Three car journeys were undertaken.
	For information relating to Cabinet and public engagement event held in Glasgow on 16 April 2009 I refer the hon. Member to the answer by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 3 June 2009,  Official Report, column 487W.

Departmental Surveys

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what expenditure  (a) Arts Council England,  (b) Sport England,  (c) UK Sport,  (d) English Heritage and  (e) the Royal Parks Agency incurred on staff surveys in each of the last five years; and which organisation carried out each such survey.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The annual cost of staff surveys for the named organisations (as provided by those organisations) in each of the last five years is set out in the table. All figures include VAT. The figures include the costs of main staff surveys and do not include ad hoc requests for information.
	
		
			  Cost of survey and organisation involved 
			  £ 
			   2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			 Arts Council England 0 (1)28,000 0 (2)23,400 (2)18,300 
			   
			 Sport England (3)21,761 0 0 0 0 
			   
			 UK Sport 0 0 0 0 (4)3,450 
			   
			 English Heritage 0 0 0 (5)39,550 0 
			   
			 The Royal Parks 0 0 0 (6)5,399.12 (7)9,533.52 
			 (7)12,638.70 (—) 
			 (1) The Leadership Factor.  (2 )Ipsos Mori (A).  (3) GfK NOP.  (4) Fargus Consulting Partnership.  (5 )TalentPulse.  (6) ORC International.  (7) Atkins Management .  Note:  A—The 2007-08 and 2008-09 costs were part of one survey carried out over two financial years.

Employment Tribunals Service

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many actions under employment law have been brought against his Department in each of the last three years; how many such actions were brought under each category of action; and how many such actions were contested by his Department at an employment tribunal.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I am not able to provide the information requested.
	It is standard statistical practise in DCMS not to release statistical information pertaining to individual members of staff when the numbers of staff involved are less then five. This is done to protect individuals' identities.

Television

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions his Department has had with Ofcom on a timetable for the completion of its investigation into the pay television market; and when he expects Ofcom to publish a third consultation outlining potential remedies to structural problems identified in the market.

Ben Bradshaw: Competition matters are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Business, Innovation and Skills. However, my officials have discussed the timetable of this investigation with Ofcom and I understand that they expect to make a statement on their progress and current findings by the end of June.

Departmental Buildings

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what  (a) land and  (b) buildings his Department has sold since 1997.

Kevan Jones: Records of transactions prior to 2000 are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. I will write to the hon. Member with the information on land and buildings sold since 2000 as soon as this data has been verified and collated.

Special Forces: Finance

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he plans to take in respect of funding for the UK special forces in advance of the implementation of the rebalancing strategy for the armed forces.

Bob Ainsworth: It is the long-standing policy of this and previous Governments not to comment on matters relating to UK special forces, as their disclosure would, or would likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the armed forces.

Departmental Expenditure Limits

Mark Harper: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the aggregate percentage change to departmental expenditure limits between 2010-11 and 2013-14.

Liam Byrne: In the 10 years from 1997, total public spending increased by 43 per cent. in real terms, compared to 14 per cent. in the previous decade. Such high levels of investment, coupled with reforms, have enabled the Government to achieve major improvements across frontline public services. The Government are committed to increasing investment in important public service priorities over the coming years, alongside delivering more efficient and effective public services and cutting down on waste. Departmental allocations plan for 2010-11 were set out in Budget 2009.
	Departmental allocations plan beyond 2010-11 will be decided at the next spending review. Over 2011-12 to 2013-14, public sector current expenditure is set to grow at an average of 0.7 per cent. in real terms, and public sector net investment will move to 1.25 per cent. of GDP in 2013-14.

Departmental Expenditure Limits

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the aggregate percentage change to departmental expenditure limits between 2010-11 and 2013-14.

Richard Spring: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the aggregate percentage change to departmental expenditure limits between 2010-11 and 2013-14.

Liam Byrne: In the 10 years from 1997, total public spending increased by 43 per cent. in real terms, compared to 14 per cent. in the previous decade. Such high levels of investment, coupled with reforms, have enabled the Government to achieve major improvements across frontline public services. The Government are committed to increasing investment in important public service priorities over the coming years, alongside delivering more efficient and effective public services and cutting down on waste.
	Departmental allocations plan for 2010-11 were set out in Budget 2009. Departmental allocations plan beyond 2010-11 will be decided at the next spending review. Over 2011-12 to 2013-14, public sector current expenditure is set to grow at an average of 0.7 per cent. in real terms, and public sector net investment will move to 1.25 per cent. of GDP in 2013-14.

Employment

Adrian Bailey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect on levels of employment of the measures in the 2009 Budget.

Julie Morgan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent assessment he has made of the effect on levels of employment of the measures in the 2009 Budget.

Kitty Ussher: Action the Government have taken in the pre-Budget report 2008, since then and at Budget 2009 is of critical importance in supporting employment. For example, targeted cash-flow support for businesses through HMRC's Business Payment Support Service has already helped 100,000 businesses employing 600,000 people since PBR. Precise quantification of the impact of each measure in the 2009 Budget will be undertaken where possible and when the relevant data becomes available.

Local Government: Correspondence

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what mechanisms exist for hon. Members to request an immediate response from local education authorities in respect of urgent cases referred to them by those hon. Members; and if he will make a statement.

Diana Johnson: If a local authority fails to respond to a hon. Member within a reasonable period of time, it is open to that Member to complain to the Commission for Local Administration in England (the Local Government Ombudsman).

Cabinet: Glasgow

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills how much expenditure was incurred by his Department in respect of the Cabinet meeting in Glasgow on 16 April 2009.

Patrick McFadden: For information relating to the Cabinet and public engagement event held in Glasgow on 16 April I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 3 June 2009,  Official Report, column 487W.

Cabinet: Glasgow

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what expenditure on  (a) travel,  (b) accommodation and  (c) food was incurred by (i) the Secretary of State and (ii) officials in his Department in connection with the Cabinet meeting in Glasgow on 16 April 2009.

Patrick McFadden: For information relating to the Cabinet and public engagement event held in Glasgow on 16 April I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 3 June 2009,  Official Report, column 487W.

Departmental Public Consultation

Mark Prisk: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for North West Cambridgeshire of 19 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1278W, on departmental public consultation, how many public consultations run by his Department in the last 12 months received  (a) no response,  (b) between one and 20 responses,  (c) between 21 and 50 responses,  (d) between 51 and 100 responses and  (e) over 100 responses; which consultations received no responses; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: Of the 36 consultations reported in the answer of 19 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1278W:
	  (a) one consultation received no responses;
	  (b) nine received between one and 20 responses;
	  (c) 12 received between 21 and 50 responses;
	  (d) nine received between 51 and 100 responses; and
	  (e) five received over 100 responses.
	The number of responses received for individual consultations is recorded in the Government responses—these are published on the departmental website alongside the consultations themselves at:
	www.berr.gov.uk/consultations/
	The one consultation which received no responses was 01-07-08 Consultation on a technical amendment to the Cosmetic Products (Safety) Regulations 2008.

Parental Leave: Lone Parents and Low Incomes

John Bercow: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the recommendations in the Equality and Human Rights Commission's Working Better report on the take-up of maternity and paternity leave by lone parents and parents on low incomes; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: The Government welcome the EHRC's contribution to the debate in this important area, and recognises the importance of ensuring mothers and fathers are both able to spend the time they need with their families, while also being able to balance work and family life. That is why we have progressively introduced a substantial package of measures to help working parents while recognising the needs of employers.
	From April 2007 all employed mothers have been eligible to take up to 52 weeks' maternity leave, of which 39 weeks are paid. We have also more than doubled the standard rate payable to those mothers from £55.70 in 1997 to £123.06 now. Longer and better paid maternity leave gives all mothers more choice about how much time to take off and 88 per cent. of mothers now take their full entitlement to paid leave(1).
	We have also introduced statutory paternity pay at the same standard rate as SMP. More than nine-tenths of fathers take time off around the time of their child's birth(2) of which seven tenths take two weeks or more.
	Government financial support including statutory maternity pay and statutory paternity pay is now worth at least £9,000 for many families during a child's first year, up from only £2,600 in 1997.
	(1 )Maternity rights and mothers employment decisions, 2008.
	(2 )Maternity rights and mothers employment decisions, 2008.

River Nile: Film

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2009, if he will place in the Library a copy of the Nile Basin documentary film produced by Wild Dog Ltd. with funding from his Department.

Gareth Thomas: A copy of the Nile Basin Documentary Film, will be placed in the Library of the House.